Camera, an image inputting apparatus, a portable terminal device, and a method for transforming the camera configuration

ABSTRACT

A camera has a camera body formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape, and in the intermediate portion of the camera body, a flexion/transformation mechanism dividing the camera body into an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject and a gripping section for a photographer to grip the camera body at the time of photographing is provided. The flexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose the image photographing section and the gripping section on a same straight line such that the camera body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the gripping section angled relative to said image photographing section in a second state.

CROSS REFERENCE

[0001] This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 120to Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-081056 filed in the JapanesePatent Office on Mar. 22, 2000, the entire contents of which areincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to improvement in the configurationof cameras, image inputting apparatus, and portable terminal devices,and in particular relates to cameras, image inputting apparatus andportable terminal devices having view finder structures suitable forelectronic cameras recording, in a recording medium, image informationobtained by image photographing elements such as a solid-state imagephotographing element, etc., and methods of transforming the camera bodyconfiguration.

[0004] 2. Discussion of the Background

[0005] In recent years, cameras called “digital cameras” have beenrapidly popularized. Digital cameras photograph an image of a subject byuse of a solid-state image photographing element such as, for instance,a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image photographing element, etc. Thecameras obtain image data of a static image (still image) or a movingimage (movie image) of the subject, and digitally record the obtaineddata in an IC (Integrated Circuit) recording medium or a floppy disc,etc. Multi-media cards employing flash memory, SD cards, smart-media,and compact flash memory, etc., called “smart cards,” are generally usedas the IC recording medium. In addition to those card-state recordingmedia called “smart cards,” recording media also employing flash memoryin a similar way but having other shapes than flat card-like shapes, forinstance, a memory stick, etc. are also used.

[0006] In the digital camera field, electronic functional parts havebeen highly developed, compared with conventional silver salt camerasemploying silver salt films, such that it is relatively easy to makedigital cameras small. In addition, restrictions as to the structure andarrangement of parts have been reduced, and freedom in cameraconfiguration has been increased. For this reason, there have appeareddigital cameras having new configurations different from that ofconventional cameras.

[0007] In reducing the size of a camera so that the portability thereofis enhanced, it is conceivable to form the camera in a small block, anelongated stick, or a flat shape. In reducing the size of a camera, ifthe requirement is only that the camera is suitable for being carried byhand or being hung around the neck as an accessory, the camera can bemade small in any shape so long as it is small enough to be easilycarried and the shape is suitable for use as an accessory. However, whenthe photographing operation is taken into consideration, if the camerais excessively small, the photographing operation tends to becomecomplicated or difficult. In addition, it may become difficult to holdthe camera at the time of photographing. Furthermore, when ease inputting the camera into a bag, etc. and convenience in placing thecamera in the bag are taken into consideration, an elongated-stick shapeor a flat shape is more preferable than a block shape.

[0008] A known digital camera, for example, Digital Camera SDC-007 ofSamsung Electronics Corporation, has two folding configurations, asillustrated in FIG. 27. As illustrated FIG. 26, the camera is dividedinto three sections, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) displaying sectionD, an operation board section T, and a lens system section L for imagephotographing operation. The LCD displaying section D and the operationboard section T are formed in a flat-box shape, and the camera can befolded with the axis of the lens system section L as the fulcrum. Whenthe camera is carried, it is folded in two such that the LCD displayingsection D is superposed on the operation board section T, so as to becompact.

[0009] However, when the above-described camera is folded in two, thethickness thereof increases, causing inconvenience in being accommodatedin a bag etc. Therefore, the portability of the camera is notnecessarily good.

[0010] Further, when photographing with the above-described camera, theLCD displaying section D is opened with the lens system portion L as thefulcrum, and while holding the operation board section T horizontally, adesired subject is photographed by observing an image displayed on theLCD displaying section D. The above-described camera is thereforedifficult to hold, and is relatively poor in the operability. Further,hand shaking is easy to occur.

[0011] Furthermore, because of the large number of operational memberssuch as the power source switch, the function selecting button, etc.that are arranged on the operation board section T, the operationalmembers tend to be erroneously operated when holding or gripping theoperation board section T.

[0012] Moreover, because the operation board section T of theabove-described camera is formed elongated in the back-and-forthdirection, that is, in the optical-axis direction of the lens systemsection L, it is difficult to hold the camera with one hand.

[0013] As described heretofore, digital cameras are desired to becompact, superior in portability, and shaped in appearance suitable foruse as an accessory when carried by the user. Furthermore, cameras aredesired to be easy to hold and operate when photographing. Otherapparatuses each having an image photographing function, such as thesilver salt camera, the portable image inputting apparatus that can beused instead of an image scanner or a video camera, a portable telephoneset, and a portable information terminal or a PDA (personal digital assinstant), etc., are likewise desired to be compact, superior in theportability, and shaped in an appearance suitable for use as anaccessory when carried by the user, and easy to hold and operate whenphotographing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention has been made in view of theabove-discussed and other problems and addresses and solves theabove-discussed and other problems.

[0015] Accordingly, preferred embodiments of the present inventionprovide a camera, an image inputting apparatus, and a portable terminaldevice, that are superior in portability, easy to be formed in a goodouter appearance, superior in operability including holding ease inphotographing and suitableness for one-hand operation, and hard to beshaken when photographing.

[0016] Preferred embodiment of the present invention further provide amethod of changing camera configurations.

[0017] In particular, preferred embodiments of the present inventionprovides a camera, an image inputting apparatus, and a portable terminaldevice, that have a good portability and appearance suitable for use asan accessory and at the same time has superior holding ease andoperability in photographing.

[0018] Further, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide amethod of transforming the body of the camera, in which change can beeasily made between a first state in which superior carrying portabilityand appearance are obtained and a second state in which holding ease andoperability preferable in photographing are obtained.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thecamera has the camera body formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape,and in the intermediate portion of the camera body, aflexion/transformation mechanism dividing the camera body into an imagephotographing section including a lens system for capturing the opticalimage of a subject and a gripping section for the photographer to gripthe camera body at the time of photographing is provided. Theflexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose theimage photographing section and the gripping section on the samestraight line such that the camera body is formed in the longitudinalrectangular shape in the first state, and to dispose the grippingsection angled relative to said image photographing section in thesecond state.

[0020] According to another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the camera has the camera body comprising an imagephotographing section including a lens system for capturing an opticalimage of the subject; a gripping section for the photographer to grip atthe time of performing the image photographing operation; and aflexion/transformation mechanism that is configured to connect the endof the image photographing section with the end of the gripping sectionso as to dispose the image photographing section and the grippingsection on the same straight line such that the camera body is formed inthe longitudinal rectangular shape in the first state, and to disposethe gripping section angled relative to the image photographing sectionin the second state.

[0021] In each of the above cameras, the flexion/transformationmechanism may include a flexional mechanism capable of angling thegripping section by almost 90 degrees relative to the imagephotographing section.

[0022] Further, the flexion/transformation mechanism may include amechanism configured to connect the image photographing section and thegripping section with each other on an inclined surface obliquelyintersecting with a straight line in the first state of disposing theimage photographing section and the gripping section on the samestraight line and to relatively rotate the both sections around the axisline substantially perpendicular to the inclined surface.

[0023] Furthermore, the flexion/transformation mechanism may include amechanism configured to connect the image photographing section and thegripping section with each other so as to be relatively rotatable on theaxis line substantially in parallel with the optical axis of the lenssystem in the state of disposing the image photographing section and thegripping section on the same straight line.

[0024] Still furthermore, the flexion/transformation mechanism mayinclude a flexible connection member that cannot be easily bent, forconnecting the image photographing section and the gripping section witheach other.

[0025] Further, each of the above cameras may include a cover memberthat is configured to cover at least a part of the image photographingsection and the flexion/transformation mechanism in the first state ofdisposing the image photographing section and the gripping section onthe same straight line, so as to keep the state of disposing bothsections on the same straight line, and to slidably move the bothsections in a direction along the straight line so as to expose theflexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the objectsurface of the lens system of the image photographing section.

[0026] Furthermore, in each of the above cameras, the imagephotographing section may include at least one of a release button forperforming a release operation, a strobe light emitting section forirradiating an illumination light onto the subject, a display sectionfor indicating the operation state of the camera, and an optical finderfor confirming the photographing visual field.

[0027] Furthermore, the gripping section may accommodate at least one ofa battery as a power source and an image recording medium for recordingthe image of the subject. Further, in the above cameras, two or more ofthe flexion/transformation mechanisms may be provided in theintermediate portion of the camera body formed in a longitudinalrectangular shape, and the portion of the camera body between an endportion of the camera body and one of the flexion/transformationmechanisms and the portion nipped by the flexion/transformationmechanisms may be constructed as the gripping section.

[0028] Furthermore, the cameras may include a communication device fortransmitting photographing information by wireless transmission.

[0029] Further, the cameras may include a power on/off device causingthe power source to co-operate with the flexion/transformation mechanismto turn on the power source when the gripping section is angled relativeto the photographing section.

[0030] According to another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, an image inputting apparatus includes a body formed in alongitudinal rectangular shape, and in the intermediate portion of thebody, a flexion/transformation mechanism dividing the body into an imagephotographing section including a lens system for capturing the opticalimage of a subject and a gripping section for a photographer to grip thebody at the time of photographing is provided. Theflexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose theimage photographing section and the gripping section on a same straightline such that the body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shapein the first state, and to dispose the gripping section angled relativeto the image photographing section in the second state.

[0031] According to still another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, an image inputting apparatus has a body including an imagephotographing section having a lens system for capturing the opticalimage of a subject; a gripping section for the photographer to grip atthe time of performing the image photographing operation; and aflexion/transformation mechanism that is configured to connect the endof the image photographing section and the end the gripping section soas to dispose the image photographing section and the gripping sectionon the same straight line such that the body is formed in thelongitudinal rectangular shape in the first state, and to dispose thegripping section angled relative to the image photographing section inthe second state.

[0032] In each of the above image inputting apparatuses, theflexion/transformation mechanism may include a flexional mechanismcapable of angling the gripping section by almost 90 degrees relative tothe image photographing section.

[0033] Further, the flexion/transformation mechanism may include amechanism configured to connect the image photographing section and thegripping section with each other on an inclined surface obliquelyintersecting with a straight line in the first state of disposing theimage photographing section and the gripping section on the samestraight line and to relatively rotate the both sections around the axisline substantially perpendicular to the inclined surface.

[0034] Furthermore, the flexion/transformation mechanism may alsoinclude a mechanism configured to connect the image photographingsection and the gripping section with each other so as to be relativelyrotatable on the axis line substantially in parallel with the opticalaxis of the lens system in the first state of disposing the imagephotographing section and the gripping section on the same straightline.

[0035] Still furthermore, the flexion/transformation mechanism mayinclude a flexible connection member that cannot be easily bent, forconnecting the image photographing section and the gripping section witheach other.

[0036] Further, each of the above image inputting apparatuses mayinclude a cover member to cover at least a part of the imagephotographing section and the flexion/transformation mechanism in thefirst state of disposing the image photographing section and thegripping section on the same straight line, so as to keep the state ofdisposing both sections on the same straight line. The cover memberslidably moves in a direction along the straight line so as to exposethe flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism and theobject surface of the lens system of the image photographing section.

[0037] Further, the image photographing section may include at least oneof a photographing operation section for performing a photographingoperation, a strobe light emitting section, a display section forindicating an operation state of the apparatus, and an optical finderfor confirming a photographing visual field.

[0038] Furthermore, the gripping section may accommodate a battery as apower source. Further, in each of the image inputting apparatuses, twoor more of the flexion/transformation mechanisms may be provided in theintermediate portion of the body formed in a longitudinal rectangularshape, and the portion of the body between an end portion of the bodyand one of the two or more of the flexion/transformation mechanisms andthe portion nipped by the flexion/transformation mechanisms may beconstructed so as to be the gripping section.

[0039] Furthermore, each of the image inputting apparatuses may includea communication device for transmitting photographing information bywireless transmission.

[0040] Further, each of the image inputting apparatuses may include apower on/off device causing a power source to co-operate with theflexion/transformation mechanism to turn on the power source when thegripping section is angled relative to the photographing section.According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, aportable terminal device has a body formed in a longitudinal rectangularshape, and in the intermediate portion of the body, aflexion/transformation mechanism dividing the body into an imagephotographing section including a lens system for capturing the opticalimage of a subject and a gripping section for the photographer to gripthe body at the time of photographing is provided. Theflexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose theimage photographing section and the gripping section on the samestraight line such that the body is formed in the longitudinalrectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the gripping sectionangled relative to the image photographing section in a second state.

[0041] According to still another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a portable terminal device has a body including an imagephotographing section including a lens system for capturing the opticalimage of a subject; a gripping section for the photographer to grip atthe time of performing the image photographing operation; and aflexion/transformation mechanism configured to connect the end of theimage photographing section with the end of the gripping section so asto dispose the image photographing section and the gripping section on asame straight line such that the body is formed in the longitudinalrectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the gripping sectionangled relative to the image photographing section in a second state.

[0042] In each of the above portable terminal devices, theflexion/transformation mechanism may include a flexional mechanismcapable of angling the gripping section by almost 90 degrees relative tothe image photographing section.

[0043] Further, the flexion/transformation mechanism may include amechanism configured to connect the image photographing section and thegripping section with each other on the inclined surface obliquelyintersecting with the straight line in the first state of disposing theimage photographing section and the gripping section on the samestraight line and to relatively rotate the both sections around the axisline substantially perpendicular to the inclined surface.

[0044] Furthermore, the flexion/transformation mechanism may include amechanism configured to connect the image photographing section and thegripping section with each other so as to be relatively rotatable on theaxis line substantially in parallel with the optical axis of the lenssystem in the first state of disposing the image photographing sectionand the gripping section on the same straight line.

[0045] Further, the flexion/transformation mechanism may include aflexible connection member that cannot be easily bent, for connectingthe image photographing section and the gripping section with eachother.

[0046] Furthermore, in each of the above portable terminal devices, theimage photographing section may further include at least one of aphotographing operation section for performing a photographingoperation, a strobe light emitting section, a display section forindicating an operation state of the device, and an optical finder forconfirming the photographing visual field.

[0047] Further, the gripping section may accommodate a battery as apower source. Furthermore, each of the above portable terminal devicesmay include a communication device for transmitting photographinginformation by wireless transmission.

[0048] Further, the portable terminal devices may be a portabletelephone terminal having the function of a portable telephone, or aportable information terminal having the function of processinginformation.

[0049] According to another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a method of transforming the body of a camera includes thestep of flexing and transforming the camera body formed in alongitudinal rectangular shape, with a flexion/transformation mechanismprovided in the intermediate part of the camera body, such that theimage photographing section of the camera body including the lens systemis substantially perpendicular to the remaining section of the camerabody.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

[0051]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera as viewed at thefront-surface side (subject side) of the camera, illustrating thestructure of the camera in a state of being carried, according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0052]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG. 1 as viewed atthe back-surface side (photographer side) of the camera;

[0053]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating thestructure of the flexion/transformation mechanism of the camera;

[0054]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at theback-surface side (photographer side) of the camera, illustrating thestate of the camera on the halfway of being flexed;

[0055]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at theback-surface side (photographer side) of the camera, illustrating aphotographing state of the camera after having been flexed;

[0056]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the electronic structure ofthe camera;

[0057]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the state of gripping the cameraat the time of photographing;

[0058]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the state of gripping the camerawith a different flexion angle;

[0059]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at thefront-surface side (subject side) of the camera, schematicallyillustrating the structure of the camera in the state of being carried,according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0060]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG. 9 as viewed atthe back-surface side (photographer side) of the camera;

[0061]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at theback-surface side (photographer side) of the camera, illustrating thestate of the camera on the halfway of being flexed;

[0062]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at theback-surface side (photographer side) of the camera, illustrating thephotographing state of the camera after having been flexed;

[0063]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a camera as viewed at thefront-surface side (subject side) of the camera, schematicallyillustrating the structure of the camera in the state of being carried,according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0064]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG. 13 as viewedat the front-surface side (subject side) of the camera when a barriercover of a sliding type is slid for flexing the camera;

[0065]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at thefront-surface side (subject side) of the camera, illustrating thephotographing state of the camera after having been flexed;

[0066]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at thefront-surface side (subject side) of the camera, schematicallyillustrating the structure of the camera in the state of being carried,according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0067]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG. 16 as viewedat the back-surface side (photographer side) of the camera;

[0068]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at theback-surface side (photographer side) of the camera, illustrating thestate of the camera on the halfway of being flexed;

[0069]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at theback-surface side (photographer side) of the camera, illustrating thephotographing state of the camera after having been flexed;

[0070]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a portable telephone terminal asviewed at the subject side of the terminal, schematically illustratingthe structure of the terminal in the state of being carried, accordingto another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0071]FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the portable telephone terminalof FIG. 20 as viewed at the photographer side of the terminal;

[0072]FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the portable telephone terminalas viewed at the photographer side, illustrating the state of theportable telephone terminal on the halfway of being flexed;

[0073]FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the portable telephone terminalas viewed at the photographer side of the terminal, illustrating thephotographing state of the terminal after having been flexed;

[0074]FIG. 24 is a front view of the camera as viewed at the subjectside of the camera, schematically illustrating the structure of thecamera in the state of being carried, according to another preferredembodiment of the present invention;

[0075]FIG. 25 is a back-surface view of the camera of FIG. 24 as viewedat the photographer side of the camera, illustrating the photographingstate of the camera after having been flexed;

[0076]FIG. 26 is a front view of the camera as viewed at the subjectside of the camera, illustrating the photographing state of the cameraafter having been flexed; and

[0077]FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearanceconfiguration of a background electronic camera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0078] In describing the preferred embodiment of the present inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, specific terminology isemployed for the sake of clarity. However, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it isto be understood that each specific element includes all technicalequivalents which operate in a similar manner.

[0079] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughoutthe several views or diagrams, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through26, there are illustrated a camera, an image inputting apparatus, aportable terminal device, and a method of changing camera configuration,according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0080]FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate the structure of a camera accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is aperspective view as viewed at the front-surface side of the camera, thatis, the subject side of the camera, schematically illustrating thestructure of the camera in a state of being carried, and FIG. 2 is aperspective view as viewed at the back-surface side of the camera, thatis, the photographer side of the camera of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematiccross-sectional view for explaining the structure of theflexion-deformation mechanism section of the camera. FIG. 4 is aperspective view of the camera as viewed at the back-surface side,illustrating the state of the camera on the halfway of being flexed.FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at the back-surfaceside of the camera, illustrating the photographing state of the cameraafter having been flexed. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating theelectronic structure of the camera.

[0081] The camera 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is, forinstance, an electronic camera, which is provided with an imagephotographing section 11, a gripping section 12 and aflexion/transformation mechanism 13.

[0082] The image photographing section 11 is mainly a part directlyrelating to photographing of a subject image. The photographing section11 includes a lens system 11 a, a strobe light emitting section 11 b, anoptical finder 11 c, a release button 11 d, a mode button section 11 e,an operation button 11 f, and a display section 11 g. Furthermore, themain part of an electronic circuit realizing the image photographingfunction of the camera 1 is accommodated in the image photographingsection 11. The lens system 11 a captures an optical image of a subject.The strobe light emitting section 11 b radiates an illumination lightonto a subject. The optical finder 11 c is used for confirming a visualfield of an image to be photographed by the lens system 11 a with anoptical image. Herein, although the finder should be referred to as Atheview finder@ to be exact, because the finder is generally and widelycalled Afinder@, hereinafter, is simply called so. The release button 11d causes a timing of image photographing by being operated, and releaseoperation is performed when it is operated. The mode button 11 eincludes one or more push switch buttons. Those buttons are used forperforming the selection and setting of photographing modes and varioussorts of operation modes, etc.

[0083] The operation button section 11 f includes various sorts ofoperation buttons besides the mode button 11 e, and the operation buttonsection 11 f is used for various sorts of operations besides the modeselection and setting. The display section 11 g includes an LCD (LiquidCrystal Display), etc., and the display section 11 g displays operationstates resulting from the operation of the mode buttons 11 e or theoperation button section 11 f, the number of photographed subjects,residual quantity of electricity in the battery, and other states of thecamera 1.

[0084] The gripping section 12 is used as a grip for holding the cameraat the time of photographing. The gripping section 12 accommodates, forinstance, a battery as the power source and a recording medium forrecording the image of the subject. Typically, the recording medium, asdescribed above, uses a flash memory, such as a multi-media card, a SDcard, a smart media, a compact flash memory, or a memory stick. For thisreason, the gripping section 12 is provided with a memory cover 12 athat opens and closes when setting and removing the recording medium.

[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the image photographingsection 11 and the gripping section 12 are linearly connected andarranged to form a quadrangular cylindrical body at the time of beingcarried. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the image photographingsection 11 and the gripping section 12 are closely connected with eachother on an inclined surface intersecting with an axis line of thequadrangular cylindrical body, for instance, a plane inclined by almost45E relative to upper and lower surfaces of the camera 1. Aflexion/transformation mechanism 13 is provided at a junction where theimage photographing section 11 and the gripping section 12 are connectedwith each other.

[0086] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the flexion/transformation mechanism 13is constructed with a hollow cylindrical combining shaft section 11 hprotruding from the image photographing section 11, a flangestop-engaging section 11 i expanding to the outer circumference at theend of the protruding combining shaft section 11 h, and a passingthrough hole 12 b formed at the gripping section 12. The combining shaftsection 11 h is inserted into the passing-through hole 12 b androtatably fitted thereto. A female screw of the flange stop-engagingsection 11 i engages with a male screw formed on the outer circumferenceof the combining shaft section 11 h so as to prevent the combining shaftsection 11 h from slipping out therefrom. The combining section isconstructed so as to have a suitable resistance to rotative movementutilizing frictional or viscous damping, etc., although not illustratedin FIG. 3, and is further constructed so as to stop at a predeterminedrotational position as described later by use of a click stop mechanism,etc.

[0087] By use of the flexion/transformation mechanism 13 as describedabove, the image photographing section 11 and the gripping section 12are connected with each other so as to be rotated around the combiningshaft section 11 h. Thereby, the camera 1 can be flexed and transformedin changing between a carrying state as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2in which the photographing section 11 and the gripping section 12 arearranged on a same straight line such that the camera 1 is formed in ashape of a quadrangular cylinder stick and a photographing state asillustrated in FIG. 5 in which the image photographing section 11 andthe gripping section 12 are almost perpendicular to each other forming ashape of a reversed AL@.

[0088] Namely, in the carrying state of the camera 1 illustrated in FIG.1 and FIG. 2, the camera 1 is formed in a stick-like shape, such thatthe camera 1 is suitable for being carried in a bag, etc. or for beinghung around the neck or the wrist by attaching a strap to the camera 1.Because it is difficult to photograph with the camera 1 in such a state,the image photographing section 11 and the gripping section 12 arerotated relatively by use of the flexion/transformation mechanism 13illustrated in FIG. 3. The rotation shaft of the combining shaft section11 h of the flexion/transformation mechanism 13 is the axis line Aillustrated in FIG. 2. When the gripping section 12 is rotated in theclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 2 from the combining surfacewith the image photographing section 11, the gripping section 12 isgradually angled relative to the image photographing section 11 asillustrated in FIG. 4. Finally, at the time of rotating by almost 180degrees, the gripping section 12 becomes perpendicular to the imagephotographing section 11 as illustrated in FIG. 5, which is aphotographing state.

[0089] In such a state, as illustrated in FIG. 7, for instance, bygripping the gripping section 12 with the right hand, the photographercan easily operate the release button 11 d with the index finger of thegripping right hand while viewing at the window of the optical finder11C. For properly maintaining the above-described configurations of thecarrying state and the photographing state even when an external forceis applied to the camera 1, it is preferable to provide a stoppingmechanism such as a click stop mechanism, etc. to theflexion/transformation mechanism 13, at the position corresponding tothe carrying state illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and at the positioncorresponding to the photographing state illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7.

[0090]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of anelectronic circuit system for operating the camera 1 as illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5. The electronic circuit system of the camera 1illustrated in FIG. 6 includes an operating section 101, a release 102,an image photographing process section 103, an AF (AutomaticFocusing)/AE (Automatic Exposure) control section 104, a strobe 105, arecording controlling section 106, a camera controlling section 107, adisplaying apparatus 108, a transfer controlling section 109, and apower source 110.

[0091] The operating section 101 supplies operation information, byoperating the mode button section 11 e and the operation button section11 f, etc. in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, to the image photographing processsection 103 and the camera controlling section 107.

[0092] The release 102 supplies the release information, by operatingthe release button 11 d, to the image photographing process section 103,and causes the image photographing section 103 to perform taking-in ofimage data, that is, image photographing. The image photographingprocess section 103 operates the AF/AE control section 104, the strobe105, the record controlling section 106, and the camera controllingsection 107, etc. on the basis of a photographing mode set at that timepoint in response to release information, by operating the releasebutton 11 d, given from the release 102. The image photographing processsection 103 causes each unit to selectively perform an AF and AEcontrol, a light emission control of the strobe 105, a control ofrecording into a recording medium, and other controls of the cameraoperation as occasion demands, such that the image photographingoperation is performed.

[0093] The AF/AE control section 104 co-operates with the imagephotographing process section 103, for instance, so as to perform an AFcontrol on the basis of distance measuring information obtained bytransmission/receipt of a distance measuring beam using an active methodthrough an AF window (not illustrated). Furthermore, the AF/AE controlsection 104 obtains information of the light amount of a subject fromthe lens system 11 a and the optical finder 11 c, etc., a speciallyprovided light-receiving element, or an image photographing element inthe image photographing process section 103, so as to properly performthe exposure control.

[0094] The strobe 105 is controlled by the image photographing processsection 103 and operates to activate the strobe light emitting section11 b when required in the AE control with the AF/AE control section 104or when so instructed by a manual operation on the operating section101. The record controlling section 106 writes image data obtained bythe image photographing section 103 in a recording medium.

[0095] The camera controlling section 107 controls the imagephotographing process section 103 in accordance with the operation ofthe operating section 101 and causes the operation section 103 toperform the photographing operation. The display apparatus 108 iscontrolled by the camera control section 107, and has the function ofdisplaying the state of the photographing mode, an operation mode of thestrobe 105, and information of the voltage state of the power source 110on a state displaying image surface of the display apparatus 108 on thebasis of the operating state of the image photographing process section103 and the camera controlling section 107.

[0096] The transfer controlling section 109 takes image data stored in arecording medium through the record controlling section 106 on the basisof the control of the camera controlling section 107 in accordance withthe operation of the operating section 101, and transfers selectively orcollectively the taken-out image data by use of a wire or wirelesssystem to an outside PC (Personal Computer) or a portable informationterminal (PDA), etc. In the transfer controlling section 109, forwireless communication with the PC or the portable information terminal,etc. at the time of transferring the image data, for instance, aninterface based on the Bluetooth standard can be used. A battery is usedfor the power source 110 to supply the operational electric power to theabove-described respective parts. The above-described gripping section12 accommodates the battery as the power source 110 and a recordingmedium installing section, etc. In such a structure, it is necessary tosupply electricity to the image photographing section 11 from thegripping section 12 and also to transmit and receive electric signalsbetween the gripping section 12 and the image photographing section 11.Electricity supplying and signal lines can be inserted through thehollow portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism 13. A well-knownslip ring and a movable conductive mechanism such as a brush, etc. canbe also used in the flexion/transformation mechanism 13.

[0097] Moreover, the display apparatus 108 may be configured to includea display section 11 g capable of displaying an image, and the cameracontrolling section 107 can cause the display section 11 g of thedisplay apparatus 108 to display subject images before beingphotographed or being photographed, or photographed subject imagesstored in a recording medium. On this occasion, the display apparatus108 is controlled by the camera controlling section 107, so as todisplay subject images before being photographed or being photographedwith the image photographing element of the image photographing processsection 103 on a screen of the display section 11 g such that thedisplay apparatus 108 is used as the electronic finder, or to reproduceand display subject images stored in the recording medium, etc. with therecord controlling section 106.

[0098] By thus structuring the camera 1 as described above, when thecamera 1 is carried, the camera 1 can be put in a stick-like shapehaving a preferable outer appearance, so as to be superior in theportability and to be capable of being used as an accessory. Further,when photographing with the camera 1, the camera 1 can be flexed andtransformed by the flexion/transformation mechanism 13, such that theimage photographing section 11 is almost horizontal while the grippingsection 12 is almost vertical, i.e., formed in a reversed L-shape.Thereby, the camera 1 can be held surely, and there is almost no dangerof instability caused by a shaky hand because of the adoption of areversed L-shape.

[0099] In the above-described embodiment, the camera 1 is constructedsuch that the image photographing section 11 is almost horizontal andthe griping section 12 is angled almost vertical, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 7. However, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the relative anglebetween the image photographing section 11 and the gripping section 12may be set to an angle exceeding 90 degrees, while keeping the imagephotographing section 11 almost in the horizontal state, and setting thegripping section 12 in a state of being slightly inclined from thevertical state.

[0100] In order to attain the above-described state, it may bepreferable to set the inclined angle of the combining surface betweenthe image photographing section 11 and the gripping section 12 relativeto the upper and lower surfaces of the camera 1 to an angle larger than45 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees. In FIG. 8, the angle is 60degrees. Probably, the range of 45-70 degrees may be practical. When thesize of the camera 1 is excessively small and when the optical finder 11c and the strobe of the image photographing section 11 are located atthe vicinity of the flexion/transformation mechanism 13, there arises adanger of covering the front part of the camera 1 with a finger, forinstance, with the middle finger. However, as illustrated in FIG. 8,when the gripping section 12 is further inclined from the verticalstate, the problem of covering the front portion of the strobe, etc. isavoided. In addition, the gripping section can be gripped furtherstably.

[0101]FIGS. 9 through 12 illustrate the structure of a camera accordingto another preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is aperspective view of the camera as viewed at the front-surface side ofthe camera, namely, at the subject side, schematically illustrating thestructure of the camera in a carrying state thereof. FIG. 10 is aperspective view of the camera as viewed at the back-surface side of thecamera, namely, at the photographer side. FIG. 11 is a perspective viewof the camera as viewed at the back-surface side of the cameraillustrating the state of the camera on the halfway of flexing thecamera illustrated in FIG. 9. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of thecamera as viewed at the back surface side of the camera in the state ofphotographing after having been flexed. In this embodiment, theelectronic structure of the camera is substantially the same as that ofFIG. 6.

[0102] A camera 2 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 is, for instance, anelectronic camera includes an image photographing section 21, a grippingsection 22, and a flexion/transformation mechanism 23.

[0103] The image photographing section 21 is a part directly relating tophotographing a subject image. The photographing section 21 includes alens system 21 a, a strobe light emitting section 21 b, an opticalfinder 21 c, a release button 21 d, a mode button section 21 e, anoperating button section 21 f, and a display section 21 g. Furthermore,the main part of an electronic circuit of realizing the imagephotographing function is accommodated in the image photographingsection 21.

[0104] The lens system 21 a captures the optical image of the subject.The strobe light emitting section 21 b radiates an illumination lightonto the subject. The optical finder 21 c is used for confirming thearea of photographing visual field to be photographed by the lens system21 a with an optical image. The release button 21 d is disposed on theupper surface side of the image photographing section 21 in the vicinityof the flexion/transformation mechanism 23, and instructs an imagephotographing timing by being depressed so that a release operation isperformed. The mode button section 21 e includes several buttons of thepush button switch type. The mode button section 21 e is used forselecting and setting of a photographing mode and an operation mode. Theoperating button section 21 f includes various sorts of operationbuttons, beside the mode button 21 e, and is used for various operationsbesides the mode selection and setting. The display section 21 gincludes a liquid crystal display, and displays the operating state, thenumber of photographed subjects, the residual amount of the electricityin a battery, and the other operation states, resulting from theoperations of the mode button section 21 e and the operating buttonsection 21 f.

[0105] The gripping section 22 is a portion used as the grip forgripping the camera 2 at the time of photographing. The gripping section22 accommodates a battery as the power source and a recording medium forrecording a subject image. For this reason, a memory cover 22 a foropening and closing at the time of setting and removing the recordingmedium is provided for the gripping section 22.

[0106] At the time of carrying, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, theimage photographing section 21 and the gripping section 22 are linearlycombined into one arranged in the shape of a quadrangular cylinder. Thecombining portions of the image photographing section 21 and thegripping section 22 have projecting portions 21 p and 22 p that projectalong respective side surfaces at end portions thereof, respectivelyhaving the thickness equally divided into two in the width directionthereof. Those projections 21 p and 22 p are connected with each otherby closely bringing into contact with other respective side wallsthereof facing knotch portions and parallel with the front and rearsurfaces of the camera 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. A rotationalconnection mechanism substantially the same as the one of FIG. 3 capableof rotating around the axis line B parallel with the optical axis of thelens system 21 a is provided at the surface where the side walls of theprojections 21 p and 22 p contact each other, thus realizing aflexion/transformation mechanism 23.

[0107] With the above-described flexion/transformation mechanism 23, theimage photographing section 21 and the gripping section 22 are combinedand rotated around the axis (axis line B), and thereby the camera 2 canbe flexed and transformed from a carrying state in which, as illustratedin FIGS. 9 and 10, the image photographing section 21 and the grippingsection 22 are arranged on a same straight line such that the camera 2is in a shape of an elongated quadrangular cylinder stick, to aphotographing state in which, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the camera 2 isin a shape of an inverse AL@. Namely, in the carrying state asillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the camera 2 is in a shape of a stick soas to be suitable for being carried in a bag or for attaching a strapetc. thereto so that the camera 2 can be hung on the neck or the wristinstead of being carried in the bag. However, because it is difficult toperform a photographing operation in the carrying state, thephotographing section 21 and the gripping section 22 are relativelyrotated by use of the flexion/transformation mechanism 23. Therotational axis of the flexion/transformation mechanism 23 is the axisline B illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11. When the gripping section 22is rotated in the clockwise direction from the image photographingsection 21 as illustrated in FIG. 10, the gripping section 22 isgradually angled relative to the photographing section 21 as illustratedin FIG. 11. When the gripping section 22 rotates by almost 90?, thegripping section 22 becomes almost perpendicular to the photographingsection 21 as illustrated in FIG. 12. In this state, as in the case ofFIG. 7, by gripping the camera 2 with the right hand, for instance, thephotographer can easily operate the release button 21 d with thegripping right hand, while viewing at the window of the optical finder21 c.

[0108] For maintaining the aforementioned carrying state andphotographing state even when there exists an external force, it may bepreferable to provide a stopping mechanism such as a click stopmechanism, etc. for the flexion/transformation mechanism 23 on theposition corresponding to the carrying state illustrated in FIGS. 9 and10 and on the position corresponding to the photographing stateillustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. The electronic circuit system foroperating the camera 2 illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 12 uses astructure substantially the same as that of the block diagramillustrated in FIG. 6.

[0109] The aforementioned gripping section 22 accommodates a batteryemployed as the power source and a recording medium installing section,and it is necessary to supply electricity to the image photographingsection 21 and to exchange electric signals therebetween. Powersupplying signal lines between the both photographing section 21 and thegripping section 22 can be inserted through a hollow portion of theflexion/transformation mechanism 23, although not illustrated in therelevant figures. A well-known movable conductive mechanism including aslip ring and a brush, etc. can be also used in theflexion/transformation mechanism 23.

[0110] Furthermore, the display section 21 g may be capable ofdisplaying an image, and may be configured to display a subject imagebefore photographing or being photographed or to reproduce and display aphotographed subject image stored in a recording medium. On thisoccasion, the subject image before photographing or being photographed,which is obtained by the image photographing element, is displayed onthe image surface of the displaying section 21 g, such that thedisplaying section 21 g can be used as an electronic view finder.

[0111] Thus, the camera 2 can be made in the shape of a stick superiorin the portability and having a preferable outer appearance suitable forbeing used as an accessory at the time of being carried. Further, thecamera 2 can be flexed and transformed by the flexion/transformationmechanism 23 at the time of photographing, such that the imagephotographing section 21 is almost horizontal and the gripping section22 is almost vertical. Therefore, the camera 2 has a configuration of aninverse AL@, such that the camera 2 can be securely held by thephotographer, with very low probability of being shaken.

[0112] Furthermore, the flexion angle formed by theflexion/transformation mechanism 23 can be optionally set easily. Adesired angle other than the right angle can be set, for example, byregulating the flexion with the desired angle or by providing a clickstop mechanism to set one or more desired angles. Furthermore, byconfiguring the gripping section 22 to stop at plural flexion angles,the flexion angle can be selectively set in accordance with a desiredangle.

[0113] Furthermore, a twisting spring may be suspended over a curvatureportion between the gripping section 22 and the image photographingsection 21, so as to energize the gripping section 22 to move into thephotographing state, and to move the gripping section 22 into thecarrying state, while opposing against the above-described twistingspring, to be stopped by a stopping mechanism to maintain the carryingstate.

[0114] With the above-described structure, when the camera 2 is in thecarrying state, the gripping section 22 of the camera 2 can be grippedwith the right hand, and the stopping state of the stopping mechanismcan be released with the finger of the right hand, for instance, thethumb. Thus, according to the above-described embodiment of the presentinvention, a camera that can be operated by a single hand and that canbe operated at a fast speed can be provided.

[0115] Furthermore, camera 2 may be configured such that the imagephotographing section 21 can be rotated, while the gripping section 22is being held with the right hand, although not illustrated in thefigures.

[0116] Namely, referring to FIG. 11 as an example, the camera 2 isconstructed such that a knob capable of rotating the image photographingsection 21 is provided on a portion of the projection 22 p of thegripping section 22, and a part of the outer circumference of the knobprotrudes from the surface of the projection 22 p.

[0117] In such a structure, by griping the gripping section 22 of thecamera 2 with the right hand, the knob can be rotated with the thumb ofthe right hand. Therefore, the configuration of the camera 2 can beeasily changed from the photographing state to the carrying state orvice versa, thus improving usage convenience of the camera 2.

[0118]FIGS. 13 through 15 illustrate the structure of a camera accordingto another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a perspectiveview of the camera as viewed at the front-surface side, that is, thesubject side illustrating a structure in the state of being carried.FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed at thefront-surface side illustrating a state of starting flexion of thecamera illustrated in FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of thecamera as viewed at the front-surface side illustrating a state ofphotographing after having been flexed. The electronic structure of thecamera is substantially the same as that of FIG. 6.

[0119] The camera of this embodiment uses the flexion/transformationmechanism of the previous embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 12.In the state of being carried, a slide cover for covering the entireportion of the image photographing section also covers theflexion/transformation mechanism section. Thereby, unintentional flexiondue to a malfunction of the flexion/transformation mechanism can beprevented, and the convenience of carrying the camera is realized inaddition to the improvement of an outer appearance. When putting thecamera in the photographing state, the aforementioned slide cover isslid in a direction of the arrow S in FIG. 14, so that theflexion/transformation mechanism section is exposed and the restrictionregulation thereof is released, and is bent as illustrated in FIG. 15.When the slide cover is slid, windows provided in the slide covercorresponding to the lens system and the strobe light emitting sectionare positioned where the lens system and the strobe light emittingsection, etc. are seen through the windows, such that the lens systemand the strobe light emitting section can be used.

[0120] A camera 3 illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 is, for instance, anelectronic camera provided with an image photographing section 31, agripping section 32, and a flexion/transformation mechanism 33.

[0121] The image photographing section 31 is the portion directlyrelating to photographing of a subject image. The photographing section31 includes a lens system 31 a, a strobe light emitting section 31 b, anoptical finder 31 c, a release button 31 d, a mode button section 31 e,and a display section 31 g. Furthermore, the main portion of anelectronic circuit for realizing the image photographic function of thecamera 3 is accommodated in the image photographing section 31. The lenssystem 31 a captures an optical image of a subject. The strobelight-emitting section 31 b radiates an illumination light onto thesubject. The optical finder 31 c is used for confirming the area of avisual field to be photographed by the lens system 31 a. The releasebutton 31 d instructs a timing of photographing and performs a releaseoperation by being operated. The mode button section 31 e includesseveral push buttons of push button switches, and the mode buttonsection 31 e is used for selecting and setting a photographing mode andan operation mode, etc.

[0122] The camera 3 includes various sorts of operation buttons, besidesthe mode button 31 e, as in the case of the previous embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 10 through 12, although not illustrated in FIGS. 13through 15, and an operation button section used for various sorts ofoperations besides the mode selection and setting is further provided.The display section 31 g includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc.,and the display section 31 g displays the operating state of the modebutton section 31 e, the number of photographed subjects, the residualamount of battery electricity, and the other states of operation.

[0123] The gripping section 32 is used as the grip for gripping thecamera 3 at the time of photographing, and accommodates therein, forinstance, a battery as the power source and a recording medium forrecording the image of a subject. For this season, a memory cover 32 afor opening and closing at the time of setting and removing therecording medium is provided.

[0124] In the carrying state, the image photographing section 31 and thegripping section 32 are linearly combined and arranged in the form of aquadrangular cylinder as illustrated in FIG. 13. The combining portionsof the image photographing section 31 and the gripping section 32 have,as illustrated in FIG. 14, projecting portions 31 p and 32 p thatproject along respective side surfaces at end portions thereof,respectively having the thickness equally divided into two in the widthdirection thereof. Those projections 31 p and 32 p are connected witheach other by closely bringing into contact with each other respectiveside walls thereof facing notch portions and parallel of with the frontand rear surfaces facing of the camera 2, as illustrated in FIG. 14. Arotational connection mechanism almost same as the one of FIG. 3 capableof rotating around the axis line parallel with the optical axis of thelens system 31 a is provided at surface where the side walls of theprojections 21 p and 22 p contact each other, thus realizing theflexion/transformation mechanism 33.

[0125] With the above-described flexion/transformation mechanism 33, theimage photographing section 31 and the gripping section 32 are combinedand rotated around the axis line, and thereby the camera 2 can be flexedand transformed from a carrying state in which, as illustrated in FIG.13, the image photographing section 31 and the gripping section 32 arearranged on on a same straight line such that the camera 2 is in anelongated quadrangular cylinder stick, to a photographing state inwhich, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the photographing section 31 and thegripping section 32 are perpendicular to each other such that the camera3 is in a shape of an inverse AL@.

[0126] Furthermore, a slide cover 31 j for covering the camera 3 isprovided at the side of the image photographing section 31 such that inthe carrying state where the photographing section 31 and the grippingsection 32 are arranged in a straight line, the cover 31 j covers thecircumference of the camera 3 in the area from the image photographingsection 31 to the flexion/transformation mechanism 33. The sliding cover31 j is capable of sliding to move in the area almost equal to thelength of the flexion/transformation mechanism 33. Windows are providedin the sliding cover 31 j such that in a state where the slide cover 31j has been moved in the direction of an arrow S so as to expose theflexion/transformation mechanism section 33, as illustrated in FIG. 14,the lens system 31 a, the strobe light emitting section 31 b and thedisplay section 31 g can be used. Because those windows do notcorrespond to respective positions of the lens system 31 a, the strobelight emitting section 31 b, and the display section 31 g when theflexion/transformation mechanism 33 is pushed into and covered by thesliding cover 31 j, the outer surface of the lens system 31 a, the lightemitting section 31 b, and the display section 31 g are covered andprotected by the slide cover 31 j as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0127] Because the optical finder 31 c is situated at the tip end of theimage photographing section 31 in the case of FIG. 13, the opticalfinder 31 c cannot be opened and closed by the sliding cover 31 j.Therefore, an object lens section and an eye lens section arerespectively formed as thinly as possible, so as to be integrallyprovided at the walls at the both sides of the slide cover 31 j.Needless to mention, if the positional relationship is allowed, even theoptical finder 31 c can be opened and closed by the slide cover 31 j.

[0128] Furthermore, the release button 31 d and the mode setting buttonsection 31 e, etc. are constructed such that respective internalstructures are connected with the buttons on the slide cover 31 j in thestate where the flexion/transformation mechanism 33 section has beenexposed, as illustrated in FIG. 14. The release button 31 d, the modesetting button section 31 e, and the display section 31 g, etc. may bethinly formed so as to be integrally provided with the slide cover 31 j.In this case, it may be configured such that, on-off-operations of apart or all of the functions of those units 31 d, 31 e, and 31 g can becontrolled in cooperation with a sliding operation of the slide cover 31j, so as to prevent an erroneous operation in the carrying state.

[0129] Furthermore, it may be preferable that a step is formed on theboundary area between the flexion/transformation mechanism 33 sectioncovered by the slide cover 31 j in the carrying state and the othersections of the gripping section 32, so that as illustrated in FIG. 13,the outer surfaces of the slide cover 31 j and the outer surface of thegripping section 32 smoothly continue. Furthermore, in the state wherethe flexion/transformation mechanism 33 is pushed into the slide cover31 j, the flexion/transformation mechanism 33 is locked, so as not tofunction. Therefore, the camera 3 cannot be flexed. Owing to such amechanism, there occurs no flexion/transformation in the camera 3 due toa outside force in the carrying state. Furthermore, it is desirable thata strap, etc. is mounted on a button portion of the gripping section 32(the left-edge surface of the gripping section 32 in FIG. 13).

[0130] Thus, in the carrying state illustrated in FIG. 13, the camera 3is in the shape of a stick. Therefore, the camera 3 is suitable forbeing carried in a bag or being hung around a neck or a wrist. Whenphotographing, the slide cover 31 j is moved in the direction of thearrow S in FIG. 14, so that the locked state of theflexion/transformation mechanism 13 is released. Then, the imagephotographing section 31 and the gripping section 32 can be rotationallymoved relatively to each other by the flexion/transformation mechanism33.

[0131] The rotation axis of the flexion/transformation mechanism 33 isparallel with the optical axis of the lens system 31 a as the axis lineB illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11. When the gripping section 32 isrotated in the counterclockwise direction from the image photographingsection 31 in FIG. 14, the gripping section 32 becomes almostperpendicular to the image photographing section 31 when the grippingsection 32 has been rotated by at almost 90 degrees, as illustrated inFIG. 15. In this state, as in the case of FIG. 9, by gripping thegripping section 32 with the right hand, the release button 31 d can beeasily handled with the griping right hand, while viewing the window ofthe optical finder 31 c.

[0132] For maintaining the above-described photographing state even whenthere exists an external force, it may be desirable to provide astopping mechanism, such as a click stop mechanism, etc. for theflexion/transformation mechanism 33 at the position corresponding to thephotographing state illustrated in FIG. 15. The electronic circuitsystem for operating the camera. 3 illustrated in FIGS. 13 through 15uses a structure substantially the same as that illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0133] The gripping section 32 accommodates a battery used as the powersource and a recording medium installing section, and therefore it isnecessary to supply electricity to the image photographing section 31and to exchange electric signals therebetween. Power supplying/signallines between the photographing section 31 and the gripping section 32can be inserted through a hollow portion of the flexion/transformationmechanism 33, although not illustrated in the relevant figures. Needlessto mention, it may be allowable to use a well-known slip ring andslidable conductive mechanism such as a brush, etc. in theflexion/transformation 33.

[0134] Further, the display section 31 g can be capable of displaying animage, so that a subject image before photographing or beingphotographed can be displayed by use of the display section 31 g, orthat a photographed subject image stored in a recording medium isreproduced and displayed. On this occasion, the subject image beforephotographing or being photographed by an image photographing element isdisplayed on an image surface of the displaying section 31 g, thus usingthe displaying section 31 g as an electronic view finder.

[0135] Furthermore, in the above-described structure, the main portionsof the flexion/transformation mechanism 33 and the image photographingsection 31 are inserted into the slide cover 31 j.

[0136] However, the slide cover 31 jb may be configured to be integratedwith the image photographing section 31 such that only theflexion/transformation mechanism 33 section is inserted into the slidecover 31 j by the slide movement of the slide cover 31 j. In this case,if a cover for the lens system 31 a, etc. is required, the cover may beprovided to the photographing section 31 as an exclusive cover memberfor opening and closing in cooperation with the operation of the slidecover 31 j.

[0137] By constructing a camera as described above, the camera can bemade in the shape of a stick, superior in the portability and suitablein the outer appearance for being carried as an accessory. Further, atthe time of photographing, the camera can be flexed and transformed bythe flexion/transformation mechanism 33, such that the imagephotographing section 31 is almost horizontal and the gripping section32 is almost vertical, forming an inverse AL@ shape enabling the secureholding of the camera by the photographer and causing very lowprobability of being hand shaken.

[0138] Furthermore, the flexion angle formed by theflexion/transformation mechanism 33 can be optionally set easily. Forexample, by regulating flexion of the flexion/transformation mechanism33 at a desired angle or by setting one or more desired angles by use ofa click stop mechanism, etc., it may be possible to set the flexionangle to a desired angle besides a right angle. Furthermore, byconfiguring the gripping section 21 to be stopped at plural flexionangles, the flexion angle can be selectively set in accordance with thedesired angle.

[0139]FIGS. 16 through 19 illustrate a structure of a camera accordingto another preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is aperspective view of the camera as viewed at the front-surface sidethereof, that is, the subject side, illustrating a structure in a stateof being carried. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the cameraillustrated in FIG. 16 as viewed at the back-surface side thereof, thatis, the photographer side. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the cameraas viewed at the back-surface side thereof, illustrating a state of thecamera on the halfway of being flexed. FIG. 19 is a perspective view ofthe camera as viewed at the back-surface side thereof, illustrating astate of the camera after having been flexed. In this embodiment also,the electronic structure of the camera is substantially same as that ofFIG. 6. A camera 4 illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 is, for instance, anelectronic camera. The camera 4 is provided with an image photographingsection 41, a gripping section 42 and a flexion/transformation mechanism43.

[0140] The image photographing section 41 is mainly the part directlyrelating to photographing of a subject image. The section 41 includes alens system 41 a, a strobe light emitting section 41 b, an opticalfinder 41 c, a release button 41 d, a mode button section 41 e, anoperation button 11 f, and a display section 41 g. Furthermore, the mainpart of the electronic circuit for realizing the image photographingfunction of the camera 4 is accommodated in the image photographingsection 41. The lens system 41 a captures an optical image of thesubject. The strobe light emitting section 41 b radiates an illuminationlight onto the subject. The optical finder 41 c is used for confirmingthe visual field of the image to be photographed by the lens system 41 awith the optical image.

[0141] The release button 41 d instructs the timing of imagephotographing by being operated, and a release operation is performed atthat time. The mode button section 41 e includes one or more buttonssuch as push buttons. These buttons are used in selection and settingoperations of a photographing mode and various sorts of operation modes,etc.

[0142] The operation button section 41 f includes various sorts ofoperation buttons, etc. besides the mode button 41 e, and the operationbutton section 41 f is used for various sorts of operations besides themode selection and setting operations. The display section 41 g includesan LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc., and the display section 41 gdisplays the operation states as a result of the operations of the modebutton section 41 e and the operation button section 41 f, the number ofphotographed subjects, the residual quantity of electricity in abattery, and the other operation states of the camera 4.

[0143] The gripping section 42 is the part used as the grip for grippingthe camera 4 at the time of photographing. The gripping section 42accommodates, for instance, a battery as the power source and arecording medium for recording an image of a subject. Typically, therecording medium is the one using therein a flash memory, such as amulti-media card, a SD card, a smart media, a compact flash memory, anda memory stick, etc. For this reason, the gripping section 42 isprovided with a memory cover 42 a opening and closing at the time ofsetting and removing the recording medium.

[0144] As illustrated in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, when the camera 4 iscarried, the image photographing section 41 and the gripping section 42are linearly connected with each other and arranged so as to form aquadrangular cylindrical body. The flexion/transformation mechanism 43is interposed between the image photographing section 41 and thegripping section 42. The flexion/transformation mechanism 43 has anouter appearance just like bellows and is flexibly deformable. Theflexion/transformation mechanism 43 includes a member capable of holdingthe carrying state of the camera 4 against an external force applied tothe camera in the carrying state.

[0145] The image photographing section 41 and the gripping section 42are connected with each other with the flexion/transformation mechanism43, and by flexing the flexion/transformation mechanism 43, the camera 4can be flexed and transformed between the carrying state illustrated inFIG. 16 and FIG. 17, in which the photographing section 41 and thegripping section 42 are arranged on the same straight line such that thecamera 4 is formed in the shape of quadrangular cylinder stick, to thephotographing state as illustrated in FIG. 19, in which the imagephotographing section 41 and the gripping section 42 are almostperpendicular to each other such that the photographing section 41 andthe gripping section 42 forms the shape of a reverse AL@.

[0146] Namely, in the carrying state illustrated in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17,the camera 4 is in the stick state, and therefore is suitable for beingcarried in a bag, etc. or for attaching a strap thereto so as to be hungaround the neck or the wrist. In photographing, because it is difficultto photograph with the camera 4 in the carrying state, the camera 4 isrelatively flexed by use of the flexion/transformation mechanism 43. Byrotating the gripping section 42 in the clockwise direction asillustrated in FIG. 17 relative to the image photographing section 41,the gripping section 42 is gradually angled relative to the imagephotographing section 41 as illustrated in FIG. 18. Finally, at the timeof rotating by almost 90 degrees, the gripping section 42 becomesperpendicular to the image photographing section 41 as illustrated inFIG. 19.

[0147] In this state, as illustrated in FIG. 7, for instance, bygripping the gripping section 42 with the right hand, the photographercan easily operate the release button 41 d with the gripping right hand,while viewing the window of the optical finder 41C.

[0148] For optimizing the flexion state, the flexing direction, and therestoring position of the flexion/transformation mechanism 43, theflexing direction may be regulated so as to be on the same plainsurface. Further, the flexion/transformation mechanism 43 may beconfigured such that the flexion state is stopped and held in respectivestates, i.e., in the carrying state in which the image photographingsection 41, the flexion/transformation mechanism 43, and the grippingsection 42 are aligned on a straight line, and in the photographingstate in which the image photographing section 41 becomes almostperpendicular to the gripping section 42. The electronic circuit systemfor operating the camera 4 illustrated in FIGS. 16 through 19 utilizes astructure almost same as that of FIG. 6.

[0149] The aforementioned gripping section 42 accommodates a battery asthe power source and a recording medium installing section, etc. Thegripping section 42 supplies electricity to the image photographingsection 41, and electric signals are exchanged between the photographingsection 41 and the gripping sections 42. The power supply/signal linescan be inserted into the interior of the flexion/transformationmechanism 43 although not illustrated.

[0150] Furthermore, the displaying section 41 g may be capable ofdisplaying a image. The displaying section 41 g displays a subject imagebefore photographing or a subject image being photographed, or aphotographed subject image stored in a recording medium, etc. On thisoccasion, the subject image obtained by the image photographing elementis displayed on the image surface of the display section 41 g, such thatthe display section 41 g is used as an electronic view finder.

[0151] By thus structuring a camera as described above, when carryingthe camera, the camera can be put in the shape of a stick, superior inthe portability and suitable in the outer appearance for being used asan accessory, and when photographing, the camera can be flexed andtransformed by the flexion/transformation mechanism 43, such that theimage photographing section 41 is almost horizontal while the grippingsection 42 is almost vertical, thus forming a reverse L-shape. Thereby,the camera can be held surely. In addition, there is almost no danger ofinstability caused by a shaky hand because of the adoption of a reverseL-shape.

[0152] Furthermore, the flexion angle can be easily set optionally to adesired angle other than the right angle with the flexion/transformationmechanism 43. For example, by regulating the flexion of theflexion/transformation mechanism at the desired angle, or by setting oneor more required angles by use of a click stop mechanism, etc., theflexion angle can be set to the desired. Further, by configuring thegripping section 42 so as to be stopped at plural flexion angles, theflexion angle can be also selectively set.

[0153] The present invention has been described with respect to severalembodiments, in which the present invention has been applied to cameras.However, the present invention is not limited to the cameras. Thepresent invention can be also applied to other image inputtingapparatuses, for instance, image inputting apparatuses configured to besuitable for macro photographing so that the apparatuses can be used asdevices for inputting to computers such as PCs or portable informationterminals, or other image inputting apparatuses configured to photographvideo images for a short time for inputting to PCs or portableinformation terminals. Those image inputting apparatuses can beconstructed in substantially the same manner as the cameras according tothe preferred embodiments of the present invention described above.

[0154] Furthermore, the present invention can apply when incorporatingthe above-described function of the cameras and the image inputtingapparatuses in portable terminals, such as a portable telephone terminalor a portable information terminal, etc. An example of applying thepresent invention to the portable telephone terminal is described below.

[0155]FIGS. 20 through 23 illustrate a structure of a portable telephoneterminal incorporating the camera function according to anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a perspectiveview as viewed at the subject side, schematically illustrating thestructure of the portable telephone terminal in the state of beingcarried. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the portable telephoneterminal illustrated in FIG. 20 as viewed at the photographer side. FIG.22 is a perspective view of the portable telephone terminal as viewed atthe photographer side, illustrating the state of the portable telephoneterminal halfway flexed. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the portabletelephone terminal as viewed at the photographer side after having beenflexed. In this embodiment also, the electronic structure regarding thecamera function is substantially the same as that of FIG. 6.

[0156] A portable telephone terminal 5 illustrated in FIG. 20 and FIG.21 is, for instance, a portable telephone terminal incorporating theelectronic camera function. The portable telephone terminal 5 isprovided with an image photographing section 51, a gripping section 52,and a flexion/transformation mechanism 53.

[0157] The image photographing section 51 is mainly a part carrying outthe camera function directly relating to photographing of a subjectimage. The photographing section 51 includes a lens system 51 a, astrobe light emitting section 51 b, an optical finder 51 c, a releasebutton 51 d, a mode button section 51 e; and a display section 11 g.Furthermore, a receiving speaker 51 k serving as the portable telephoneterminal and an antenna 51 m are provided in the image photographingsection 51. Furthermore, the main part of an electronic circuit forrealizing the image photographing function of the portable telephoneterminal 5 is accommodated in the image photographing section 51. Thelens system 51 a captures an optical image of a subject. The strobelight emitting section 51 b radiates an illumination light onto thesubject. The optical finder 51 c is used for confirming the visual fieldto be photographed by the lens system 51 a with the optical image. Therelease button 51 d instructs the timing of image photographing by beingoperated, and performs the release operation at that time. Themode/operation button section 51 e includes one or more buttons such aspush buttons. These buttons are used for performing selection andsetting operations of a photographing mode and various sorts ofoperation modes, etc.

[0158] The mode/operation button section 51 f is used for setting themode for the portable telephone function and for various sorts ofoperations. The display section 51 g includes an LCD (Liquid CrystalDisplay), and the display section 51 g displays the operation states bythe mode/operation button section 51 f, the number of photographedsubjects, the residual quantity of electricity in a battery, and theother operation states of the portable telephone terminal 5.

[0159] The gripping section 52 is the part used as the grip for grippingthe portable telephone terminal 5 as in the camera at the time ofphotographing. The griping section 52 accommodates, for instance, abattery as the power source and a recording medium for recording animage of a subject.

[0160] For this reason, the gripping section 52 is provided with abattery cover 52 b capable of being opened and closed at the time ofsetting and removing the recording medium or the battery. In the statewhere the battery cover 52 b has been removed, the recording medium canbe set or removed. Furthermore, the gripping section 52 is provided witha telephone operating section 52 c such as a dial button, etc. and atransmitting microphone 52 d for the portable telephone function.

[0161] When the portable telephone terminal 5 is carried, the imagephotographing section 51 and the gripping section 52 are linearlyconnected with each other and arranged in a straight line so as to beformed in a shape of a flat stick as illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21. Thecombining parts of the image photographing section 51 and the grippingsection 52 are closely connected with each other at an inclined surfaceintersecting an axis line along the elongated direction, for instance,at a plane inclined by almost 45 degrees relative to the upper and lowersurfaces of the portable telephone terminal 5. A flexion/transformationmechanism 53 is provided at the place where the combining parts of theimage photographing section 51 and the gripping sections 52 are closelyconnected with each other.

[0162] The flexion/transformation mechanism 53 is constructed insubstantially the same manner as that of FIG. 3. Theflexion/transformation mechanism 53 is constructed so as to relativelyrotate on the above-described inclined surface and to be prevented fromslipping therefrom. The combining parts of the image photographingsection 51 and the gripping section 52 are constructed so as to havesuitable resistances against the rotational movement with a frictionalor viscous damping, etc., and to be stopped at a predeterminedrotational position as described later by use of a click stop mechanism,etc. The image photographing section 51 and the gripping section 52 areconnected with each other by the flexion/transformation mechanism 53. Byrelatively rotating the image photographing section 51 and the grippingsection 52, the portable telephone terminal 5 can be flexed so as to betransformed from a carrying state illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, inwhich the photographing section 51 and the gripping sections 52 arearranged on the same straight line so that the portable telephoneterminal 5 is formed in an elongated flat stick shape, to aphotographing state illustrated in FIG. 23, in which the imagephotographing section 51 and the gripping section 52 becomeperpendicular to each other such that the portable telephone terminal 5is in a shape of a reverse AL@.

[0163] Namely, in the carrying state illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, theportable telephone terminal 5 is in a form of a stick as in the case ofordinary telephone terminals, so as to be suitable for being carried ina bag, etc. or for attaching a strap thereto for hanging it on the neckor the wrist. When photographing with the portable telephone terminal 5,because it is difficult to photograph in the carrying state, thephotographing section 51 and the gripping section 52 are rotatedrelatively by use of the flexion/transformation mechanism 53 that issubstantially the same as that illustrated in FIG. 3. The rotation shaftof the flexion/transformation mechanism 53 is the axis line Cillustrated in FIG. 21. When the gripping section 52 is relativelyrotated in the clockwise direction relative to the combining surface ofthe image photographing section 51, the gripping section 52 is graduallyangled relative to the image photographing section 51 as illustrated inFIG. 22. Finally, at the time of rotating by almost 180?, the grippingsection 52 becomes perpendicular to the image photographing section 51as illustrated in FIG. 23.

[0164] In this state, as the case illustrated in FIG. 7, for instance,by gripping the gripping section 52 with the right hand, thephotographer can easily operate the release button 51 d with thegripping right hand while viewing the window of the optical finder 51C.For maintaining the above-described configurations of the carrying stateand the photographing state even when an external force is applied tothe portable telephone terminal 5, it is preferable to provide astopping mechanism such as a click stop mechanism, etc. to theflexion/transformation mechanism 53, so as to stop the theflexion/transformation mechanism 53 at the position corresponding to thecarrying state illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21 and at the positioncorresponding to the photographing state illustrated in FIG. 23.

[0165] The electronic circuit system for operating the camera functionof the portable telephone terminal 5 as illustrated in FIGS. 20 through23 is substantially the same as that illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0166] The aforementioned gripping section 52 accommodates a battery asthe power source and a recording medium installing section, and thegripping section 52 is required to supply electricity to the imagephotographing section 51 and to exchange electric signals therebetween.The power-supply/signal lines between the photographing section 51 andthe gripping section 52 can be inserted into a hollow portion, etc. ofthe flexion/transformation mechanism 53, although not illustrated in thefigure. Needless to mention, it may be allowable to use a slidingconductive mechanism such as a well-known slip ring or brush in theflexion/transformation mechanism 53.

[0167] The display section 51 g may be configured so as to display animage, so as to display a subject image before photographing or beingphotographed, and to reproduce and displays a photographed subject imagestored in a recording medium, etc. In addition, the display section 51 gmay perform the essential operation of the portable telephone function,such as displaying of the time, the telephone number, etc. The subjectimage before photographing or being photographed obtained by an imagephotographing element is displayed on an image surface of the displaysection 51 g, such that the display section 51 is used as the electronicview finder.

[0168] By thus structuring the portable telephone terminal 5, in itscarrying state, the portable telephone terminal 5 can be put in theshape of a stick suitable for being used as a portable telephone,superior in portability, and moreover suitable for being used as anaccessory. Further, at the time of photographing, the portable telephoneterminal 5 can be flexed and transformed by the flexion/transformationmechanism 53 such that the image photographing section 51 is almosthorizontal while the gripping section 52 is almost vertical, thusforming a reverse L-shape. Thereby, the portable telephone terminal 5can be securely held, and in addition, there is almost no danger ofinstability caused by a shaky hand because of the adoption of thereverse L-shape.

[0169] Furthermore, the flexion angle of the flexion/transformationmechanism 53 can be optionally set easily. For example, the angle can beset to a required angle besides the right angle by configuring theflexion/transformation mechanism 53 such that the flexion is regulatedat the required angle, or such that one or more required angles can beset by use of a click stop mechanism, etc. Furthermore, by configuringthe gripping section 52 to be stepped at plural flexion angles, theflexion angle can be selectively set.

[0170] Furthermore, although the flexion/transformation mechanism 53employs substantially the same structure as that of theflexion/transformation mechanism 13, the structure of theflexion/transformation mechanism 23 or that of theflexion/transformation mechanism 43 may be also employed.

[0171] Furthermore, in the immediately above-described embodiment,although the description has been made with respect to the case ofapplying the present invention to a portable telephone terminal, theabove-described structure may be applied to other terminal apparatuses,for instance, portable information terminals having informationprocessing functions such as schedule control, memo recording, andelectronic mail transmission/receipt, etc.

[0172] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the descriptionhas been made for the cases where stick-state cameras, image inputtingapparatuses, or portable terminals, are flexed at one position so as tobe gripped. However, they may be configured so as to be flexed at two ormore positions, so as to be divided into plural portions. In this case,one of the plural portions divided by the flexion can be used as theimage photographing section, and another one of the plural portions canbe used as the gripping section.

[0173]FIGS. 24 through 26 illustrate a structure of a camera accordingto another preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24 is afront view of the camera as viewed at the subject side, schematicallyillustrating the structure of the camera in a state of being carried.FIG. 25 is a back-surface view of the camera viewed from thephotographer side, illustrating the structure of the camera in aphotographing state after having been flexed. FIG. 26 is a front view ofthe camera as viewed at the subject side, illustrating the structure ofthe camera in the photographing state after having been flexed. Theelectronic part of the camera is substantially the same as that of FIG.6.

[0174] A camera 6 illustrated in FIGS. 24 through 25 is for example anelectronic camera. The camera 6 includes an image photographing section61, a gripping section 62, a battery accommodation section 63, a firstflexion/transformation mechanism 64 and a second flexion/transformationmechanism 65.

[0175] The image photographing section 61 is the part directly relating,mainly, to image photographing of a subject image. The photographingsection 61 includes a lens system 61 a, a release button 61 b, and afinder eye-contact part 61 c, etc. The lens system 61 a captures anoptical image of a subject. The release button 61 b instructs a timingof photographing by being operated, and performs the release operation.The finder eye-contact part 61 c is the eyepiece of an optical finder oran electronic finder. When the finder system is the optical finder, theoptical image in a photographing visual field is formed, utilizing apart of the light flux of the lens system 61 a for use in thephotographing, and the optical image thus formed can be observed by thefinder eyepiece 61 c.

[0176] When the finder system is the electronic finder, the imageinformation photographed by an image photographing element is displayedon an interior display thereof, and the image information thus displayedcan be observed by use of the finder eyepiece 61 c. The gripping section62 is the part used as the grip for gripping the camera 6 at the time ofphotographing. For instance, the outer circumferential surface of thecamera 6 is covered with, for instance, rubber, in order to preventslipping or sliding thereon. The battery accommodating section 63accommodates, for instance, a battery as the power source. For thisreason, the battery accommodating section 63 is provided with a batterycover 63 a which is opened and closed at the time of setting andremoving the battery. Moreover, various sorts of operating sections anda recording medium, etc. may be covered at suitable positions withcovers capable of being opened and closed, although they are notillustrated in the figures. As a matter of course, the camera 6 may beconfigured to perform wireless transmission of photographed image datato a PC or a portable information terminal, etc. in the vicinity. Onthis occasion, the recording medium, etc. is not needed. Furthermore,the electronic circuit for realizing the photographing function of thecamera 6 is suitably divided and contained in the image photographingsection 61, and the gripping section 62 and the battery accommodatingsection 63.

[0177] At the time of carrying the camera 6, the image photographingsection 61, the gripping section 62, and the battery accommodatingsection 63 are linearly connected with each other and arranged in thestate of a circular cylinder as illustrated in FIG. 24. The combiningparts of the image photographing section 61 and the gripping section 62are closely connected with each other at an inclined plane intersectingwith the axis line along the longitudinal direction, for instance, theplane inclined by almost 45 degrees from the axis line, and the firstflexion/transformation mechanism 64 is provided at the place where theimage photographing section 61 and the gripping section 62 are connectedwith each other. The combining parts of the gripping section 62 and thebattery accommodating section 63 are also closely connected with eachother at an inclined plane intersecting with the axis line along thelongitudinal direction, for instance, the plane inclined by almost B45degrees from the axis line, and the second flexion/transformationmechanism 65 is provided at the place where the gripping section 62 andthe battery accommodation section 63 are connected with each other.

[0178] Both of the first and second flexion/transformation mechanisms 64and 65 are constructed in substantially the same manner as that of theflexion/transformation mechanism 13 as illustrated in FIG. 3, so as tobe relatively rotated on the above-described inclined surfaces andprevented from slipping down.

[0179] Furthermore, the above-described combining parts are constructedso as to have a suitable resistance against rotational movement withfrictional or viscous damping, etc. and so as to stop at a predeterminedrotational position as described later by use of a click stop mechanism,etc. The first and second flexion/transformation mechanisms 64 and 65respectively connect the image photographing section 61 with thegripping section 62 and the gripping section 62 with the batteryaccommodating section 63. In this structure, the first and secondflexion/transformation mechanisms 64 and 65 are respectively rotatedrelatively, and thereby the camera 6 can be flexed and transformed fromthe carrying state as illustrated in FIG. 24, in which the imagephotographing section 61, the gripping section 62, and the batteryaccommodating section 63 are positioned on a same straight line suchthat the camera 6 is formed in the shape of an elongated cylindricalstick, to the photographing state as illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, inwhich the photographing section 61 and the gripping section 62 and thegripping sections 62 and the battery accommodating section 63 arerespectively perpendicular to each other.

[0180] Namely, in the carrying state illustrated in FIG. 24, the camera6 is in the stick state, and thereby is suitable for being carried in abag, etc. or also suitable for attaching a strap thereto so as to behung around the neck or the wrist. When photographing with the camera 6,because it is difficult to photograph with the camera 6 in the carryingstate, the photographing section 61 and the batter accommodating section63 are rotated relatively by use of the first and secondflexion/transformation mechanisms 64 and 65.

[0181] When the first flexion/transformation mechanisms 64 and 65 areboth rotated by 180?, the gripping portion 62 becomes almostperpendicular to the image photographing section 61 as illustrated inFIGS. 25 and 26, and further, the battery accommodating section 63becomes almost perpendicular to the gripping section. As the result, theentire shape of the camera 6 becomes in the shape of an one-side-openedrectangle A?@. In this state, by gripping the gripping section 62 withthe right hand, the released button 61 b can be easily handled with thegripping right hand.

[0182] For maintaining the aforementioned carrying state and thephotographing state even when an external force is applied to the camera6, it may be preferable to provide a stopping mechanism such as a clickstop mechanism, etc. in the flexion/transformation mechanisms 64 and 65at the position corresponding to the carrying state illustrated in FIG.24 and at the position corresponding to the photographing stateillustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26. The electronic circuit system foroperating the camera 6 illustrated in FIGS. 24 through 26 uses thestructure substantially the same as that in FIG. 6.

[0183] Because the electronic circuit system of FIG. 6 is dividedlyaccommodated in the image photographing section 61, the gripping section62, and the battery accommodating section 63, it is necessary to supplyelectricity between the respective sections 61, 62, and 63 and exchangeelectric signal therebetween. The electricity-supply/signal linesbetween the respective sections can be inserted through a hollow portionof the first and second flexion/transformation mechanisms 64 and 65. Asa matter of course, it may be allowable to use a sliding conductivemechanism such as a well-known slip ring and brush, etc.

[0184] By thus structuring the camera 6, the camera 6 can be made in theshape of a stick superior in portability and having a preferable outerappearance suitable for being used as an accessory at the time of beingcarried. At the time of photographing, the camera 6 can be flexed andtransformed by the flexion/transformation mechanisms 64 and 65, suchthat the image photographing section 61 is almost horizontal and thegripping section 62 is almost vertical. Therefore, the camera 6 has aconfiguration of an inverse AL@, suitable for being surely held by thephotographer and having a very low probability of being shaken by thehand.

[0185] Furthermore, the flexion angle formed by theflexion/transformation mechanisms 64 and 65 can be optionally seteasily. The flexion angle can be set to a desired angle besides theright angle by regulating the flexion at the desired angle or by settingone or more desired angles by use of a click step mechanism, etc.Furthermore, by configuring the gripping section 62 so as to be stoppedat plural flexion angles, the flexion angle can be selectively set inaccordance with the desired angle.

[0186] Furthermore, the camera 6 may be configured such that the powersource switch is caused to co-operate with at least the firstflexion/transformation mechanism 64, and when the gripping section 62 isangled relative to the image photographing section 61 the power sourceis switched on. Furthermore, even on this occasion, the presentinvention is not always limited to cameras, and the present inventioncan be applied to other image inputting apparatuses.

[0187] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments describedheretofore and illustrated in the drawings. It is possible to realizevarious modifications or variations within the scope not departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

[0188] For instance, in the above-described embodiments, although eachof the grip stop mechanisms has a position determining function fordetermining the position of a flexion/transformation angle between animage photographing section and a gripping section, it may be possibleto construct a camera such that a stopping mechanism for surely stoppingthe image photographing section and the gripping section at the carryingposition and on the photographing position is provided and such that ifthe stopping mechanism is not released the both sections cannot berelatively rotated from each other.

[0189] Furthermore, regarding the length ratio between an imagephotographing section and a gripping section, it is desirable that theimage photographing section be longer than the gripping section in thecase of a camera having a large number of functions, while it isdesirable that the gripping section be longer than the imagephotographing section in the case of a camera having only a simplefunction (for instance, the camera not having a strobe), so as to befurther improved in operability.

[0190] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, with respect tocameras, an electronic camera has been exemplarity described. However,the present invention can be applied to cameras employing a silver saltfilm.

[0191] Heretofore, the preferred embodiments of the present inventionhave been described with respect to cameras, image inputtingapparatuses, portable terminal devices, and a method of changing acamera configuration. The advantageous functional effects of the presentinvention are described hereinafter for respective aspects of theinvention.

[0192] As is apparent from the foregoing description, according to thepresent invention, a camera, an image inputting apparatus, and aportable terminal device that are superior in the portability and theouter appearance when being carried and at the same time, are superiorin the holding performance and the operability when photographing arerealized with a simple structure to form a body in a longitudinalrectangular shape so as to be suitable for being carried and byproviding a flexion/transformation mechanism to angle a gripping portionrelative to a photographing portion of the body for photographing.

[0193] In particular, the appearance of the flexion/transformationmechanism can have a good outer appearance by configuring theflexion/transformation mechanism to include a mechanism to connect animage forming portion and a gripping section with each other on aninclined surface obliquely intersecting with a straight line on whichthe image photographing section and the gripping sections are disposedwhen the body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shape, and to berelatively rotated around the axis line almost perpendicular to theinclined surface.

[0194] Further, with a provision of a flexible member that cannot beeasily bent in the flexion/transformation mechanism, stable holding ofthe gripping portion in photographing can be realized.

[0195] Also, by providing a cover configured to cover theflexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section in thecarrying state, for example, a lens system for photographing can beprotected.

[0196] Further, by providing the operation part, such as the releasebutton and the strobe light emitting portion, etc. in the photographingsection, not in the gripping section, there is no danger of erroneouslyoperating the operation part by gripping of the gripping section.Furthermore, with a provision of a power on/off device configured toturn on the power source when the gripping portion is angled relative tothe mage photographing section, secure and speedy operation is realized.

[0197] Further, according to the present invention, the configuration ofa body of a camera can be easily changed from a carrying configurationfor obtaining a preferable portability and a good-looking outerappearance suitable for being carried in a photographing configurationfor obtaining preferable holding performance and operability at the timeof photographing, and vice versa.

[0198] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed heretofore. However, numerous additional modifications andvariations of the present invention are possible in light of the aboveteachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope ofthe appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other wisethan as specifically described herein.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:
 1. A communication device comprising: a first body section including: a lens system configured to capture an image of a subject, and a display configured to display said image; and a second body section rotatably connected to said first body section, including: a telephone keypad, and a space configured to accommodate a battery as a power source.
 2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein said first body section and said second body section are each arranged in a substantially rectangular shape.
 3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein said first body section includes a light emitting section configured to radiate an illumination light onto said subject.
 4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein said light emitting section and said lens system are positioned on a same side of said first body section.
 5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein said lens system and said display are positioned on different sides of said first body section.
 6. The communication device of claim 5, wherein said lens system and said display are positioned on adjacent sides of said first body section.
 7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein said first body section includes a release button configured to perform a shutter release operation.
 8. The communication device of claim 7, wherein said release button and said lens system are positioned on different sides of said first body section.
 9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein said release button and said lens system are positioned on adjacent sides of said first body section.
 10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein said second body section is configured to accommodate a removable recording medium.
 11. The communication device of claim 1, wherein said first body section includes a speaker, said speaker and said lens system being positioned on different sides of said first body section.
 12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein said speaker and said lens system are positioned on adjacent sides of said first body section.
 13. The communication device of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of said first body section and a longitudinal axis of said second body section are rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axes.
 14. The communication device of claim 1, comprising a stopping mechanism configured to limit rotation of at least one of said first body section and said second body section.
 15. The communication device of claim 1, wherein said display is configured as a liquid crystal display.
 16. The communication device of claim 1, wherein said display is configured to be used as an electronic view finder.
 17. The communication device of claim 16, wherein said display is configured to display said image at least one of before and while said image is captured.
 18. The communication device of claim 1, wherein said display is configured to display operation states of said communication device.
 19. A portable terminal device comprising: a body including, an image photographing section including a display and a lens system, said lens system being configured to capture an image of a subject, a gripping section for a user to grip said body, and a connecting mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section in a rotatable manner such that an angle between a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section can be varied.
 20. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said image photographing section and said gripping section are each arranged in a substantially rectangular shape.
 21. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said image photographing section includes a light emitting section configured to radiate an illumination light onto said subject.
 22. The portable terminal device of claim 21, wherein said light emitting section and said lens system are positioned on a same side of said image photographing section.
 23. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said lens system and said display are positioned on different sides of said image photographing section.
 24. The portable terminal device of claim 23, wherein said lens system and said display are positioned on adjacent sides of said image photographing section.
 25. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said image photographing section includes a release button configured to perform a shutter release operation.
 26. The portable terminal device of claim 25, wherein said release button and said lens system are positioned on different sides of said image photographing section.
 27. The portable terminal device of claim 26, wherein said release button and said lens system are positioned on adjacent sides of said image photographing section.
 28. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said gripping section is configured to accommodate a battery as a power source.
 29. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said gripping section is configured to accommodate a removable recording medium.
 30. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said gripping section includes a telephone operating section.
 31. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said image photographing section includes a speaker, said speaker and said lens system being positioned on different sides of said image photographing section.
 32. The portable terminal device of claim 31, wherein said speaker and said lens system are positioned on adjacent sides of said image photographing section.
 33. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and said longitudinal axis of said gripping section are rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axes.
 34. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said connecting mechanism includes a stopping mechanism configured to limit rotation of at least one of said image photographing section and said gripping section.
 35. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said display is configured as a liquid crystal display.
 36. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said display is configured to be used as an electronic view finder.
 37. The portable terminal device of claim 36, wherein said display is configured to display said image at least one of before and while said image is captured.
 38. The portable terminal device of claim 19, wherein said display is configured to display operation states of said portable terminal device.
 39. A camera comprising: a camera body having a longitudinal rectangular shape, said camera body comprising, an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject, and a gripping section for a user to grip said camera body at a time of photographing, wherein, said image photographing section and said gripping section are rotatably connected, in a first state, both a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section are parallel to a first axis such that the camera body is formed in said longitudinal rectangular shape, in a second state, said longitudinal axis of said gripping section is angled relative to said longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that at least one of said longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section is arranged along an axis angled relative to the first axis, and said gripping section accommodates a battery as a power source.
 40. The camera of claim 39, wherein said image photographing section and said gripping section are each arranged in a substantially rectangular shape.
 41. The camera of claim 39, wherein said image photographing section includes a light emitting section configured to radiate an illumination light onto said subject.
 42. The camera of claim 41, wherein said light emitting section and said lens system are positioned on a same side of said image photographing section.
 43. The camera of claim 39, wherein said image photographing section includes a display configured to display said optical image.
 44. The camera of claim 43, wherein said lens system and said display are positioned on different sides of said image photographing section.
 45. The camera of claim 44, wherein said lens system and said display are positioned on adjacent sides of said image photographing section.
 46. The camera of claim 39, wherein said image photographing section includes a release button configured to perform a shutter release operation.
 47. The camera of claim 46, wherein said release button and said lens system are positioned on different sides of said image photographing section.
 48. The camera of claim 47, wherein said release button and said lens system are positioned on adjacent sides of said image photographing section.
 49. The camera of claim 39, wherein said gripping section is configured to accommodate a removable recording medium.
 50. The camera of claim 39, wherein said gripping section includes a telephone operating section.
 51. The camera of claim 39, wherein said image photographing section includes a speaker, said speaker and said lens system being positioned on different sides of said image photographing section.
 52. The camera of claim 51, wherein said speaker and said lens system are positioned on adjacent sides of said image photographing section.
 53. The camera of claim 39, wherein said longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and said longitudinal axis of said gripping section are rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axes.
 54. The camera of claim 39, comprising a stopping mechanism configured to limit rotation of at least one of said image photographing section and said gripping section.
 55. The camera of claim 43, wherein said display is configured as a liquid crystal display.
 56. The camera of claim 43, wherein said display is configured to be used as an electronic view finder.
 57. The camera of claim 43, wherein said display is configured to display said image at least one of before and while said image is captured.
 58. The camera of claim 43, wherein said display is configured to display operation states of said camera.
 59. A camera comprising: a camera body having a longitudinal rectangular shape, said camera body comprising, an image photographing section including means for capturing an optical image of a subject, a gripping section for a user to grip said camera body at a time of photographing, and means for rotating said image photographing section and said gripping section relative to one another such that, in a first state, both a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section are positioned parallel to a first axis such that the camera body is formed in said longitudinal rectangular shape, and in a second state, said longitudinal axis of said gripping section is positioned angled relative to said longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that at least one of said longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section is arranged along an axis angled relative to the first axis, and said gripping section accommodates means for providing power to the camera.
 60. The camera of claim 59, wherein said image photographing section and said gripping section are each arranged in a substantially rectangular shape.
 61. The camera of claim 59, wherein said image photographing section includes a light emitting section configured to radiate an illumination light onto said subject.
 62. The camera of claim 61, wherein said light emitting section and said lens system are positioned on a same side of said image photographing section.
 63. The camera of claim 59, wherein said image photographing section includes a display configured to display said optical image.
 64. The camera of claim 63, wherein said lens system and said display are positioned on different sides of said image photographing section.
 65. The camera of claim 64, wherein said lens system and said display are positioned on adjacent sides of said image photographing section.
 66. The camera of claim 59, wherein said image photographing section includes a release button configured to perform a shutter release operation.
 67. The camera of claim 66, wherein said release button and said lens system are positioned on different sides of said image photographing section.
 68. The camera of claim 67, wherein said release button and said lens system are positioned on adjacent sides of said image photographing section.
 69. The camera of claim 59, wherein said gripping section is configured to accommodate a removable recording medium.
 70. The camera of claim 59, wherein said gripping section includes a telephone operating section.
 71. The camera of claim 59, wherein said image photographing section includes a speaker, said speaker and said lens system being positioned on different sides of said image photographing section.
 72. The camera of claim 71, wherein said speaker and said lens system are positioned on adjacent sides of said image photographing section.
 73. The camera of claim 59, wherein said longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and said longitudinal axis of said gripping section are rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axes.
 74. The camera of claim 59, comprising a stopping mechanism configured to limit rotation of at least one of said image photographing section and said gripping section.
 75. The camera of claim 63, wherein said display is configured as a liquid crystal display.
 76. The camera of claim 63, wherein said display is configured to be used as an electronic view finder.
 77. The camera of claim 63, wherein said display is configured to display said image at least one of before and while said image is captured.
 78. The camera of claim 63, wherein said display is configured to display operation states of said camera.
 79. A communication device comprising: a first body section including: means for capturing an image of a subject, and means for displaying said image; and a second body section rotatably connected to said first body section, including: means for operating a telephone dial function, and means for accommodating a power source.
 80. The communication device of claim 79, further comprising: means for connecting said first body section and said second body section in a rotatable manner.
 81. The communication device of claim 79, when said connecting means includes a hinge.
 82. The communication device of claim 79, wherein said first body section and said second body section are each arranged in a substantially rectangular shape.
 83. The communication device of claim 79, wherein said first body section further includes: means for radiating an illumination light onto said subject.
 84. The communication device of claim 83, wherein said radiating means and said capturing means are positioned on a same side of said first body section.
 85. The communication device of claim 79, wherein said capturing means and said displaying means are positioned on different sides of said first body section.
 86. The communication device of claim 85, wherein said capturing means and said displaying means are positioned on adjacent sides of said first body section.
 87. The communication device of claim 79, wherein said first body section further includes: means for performing a shutter release operation.
 88. The communication device of claim 87, wherein said performing means and said capturing means are positioned on different sides of said first body section.
 89. The communication device of claim 88, wherein said performing means and said capturing means are positioned on adjacent sides of said first body section.
 90. The communication device of claim 79, wherein said second body section further includes: means for accommodating a removable recording medium.
 91. The communication device of claim 79, wherein said first body section further includes: means for emitting sound.
 92. The communication device of claim 91, wherein said emitting means and said capturing means are positioned on different sides of said first body section.
 93. The communication device of claim 92, wherein said emitting means and said capturing means are positioned on adjacent sides of said first body section.
 94. The communication device of claim 79, wherein a longitudinal axis of said first body section and a longitudinal axis of said second body section are rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axes.
 95. The communication device of claim 80, wherein said connecting means further comprises: means for limiting rotation of at least one of said first body section and said second body section.
 96. The communication device of claim 79, wherein said displaying means includes a liquid crystal display.
 97. The communication device of claim 79, wherein said displaying means includes means for electronic view finding.
 98. The communication device of claim 79, wherein said displaying means includes means for displaying operation states of said communication device.
 99. A method for operating a communication device including a first body section and a second body section, comprising the steps of: capturing an image of a subject with a lens system disposed on said first body section; displaying said captured image on a display screen of said first body section; and operating a telephone keypad of said second body section, said second body section being rotatably connected to said first body section.
 100. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of: radiating an illumination light onto said subject with a light emitting section of said first body section.
 101. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of: confirming a visual field to be captured, said visual field including said subject.
 102. The method of claim 101, further comprising the step of: viewing through an optical finder of said first body section to confirm said visual field.
 103. The method of claim 101, further comprising the step of: viewing said display screen to confirm said visual field.
 104. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of: performing a shutter release operation with a release button to capture said image.
 105. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of: setting an operation mode of said communication device with mode buttons of said first body section.
 106. The method of claim 105, further comprising the step of: displaying said operation mode on said display screen.
 107. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of: displaying on said display screen a residual power amount of said communication device.
 108. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of: displaying on said display screen a number indicating a quantity of captured images.
 109. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of: recording a captured image in a removable storage medium accommodated in said second body section.
 110. The method of claim 109, further comprising the step of: retrieving and displaying a recorded image from said removable storage medium. 